Identification help required?

George120

Is anybody familiar with this large plant/shrub?

Why wont it allow me to upload my picture in to this box??

Last edited: 07 October 2017 11:49:54

Fairygirl

Try resizing the pic a bit smaller George. Anything over 2.5 MB doesn't seem to work

George120

Fairygirl

It's a Phormium George  

The tall stems are the ones carrying the flowers, which are now seedheads

George120

Ok great, you must be very knowledgeable!

Do you know if its known for having strong/lots of roots? Almost certain that it is the reason behind my putting green looking unhealthy on the golf course I maintain (root encroachment)

Fairygirl

The roots are quite solid and fleshy, George, but not usually too deep. They can be quite tough to dig out, but they wouldn't spread that far. Most plants have roughly the same root spread as their canopy. There are exceptions of course, things like some of the 'running' Bamboos for instance.

George120

George120

Okay thanks. Hmm interesting. Something in that plot  ? has to spreading its routes several feet because the roots I'm finding 100-200mm down are everywhere!

George120

ck_gardener

Hi George

The plant you photographed looks to me like some kind of sisal.  These plants are not natives of UK.  I think they came originally from South America.  I met them a lot in Africa, where they are very good in dry areas, grow to about 3-5 feet, and have leaves that are incredibly strong so are used to make rope.  In Africa there are machines that have been developed specifically to break down their fibres for ropes, called "decorticators".

I inherited a sisal in my UK garden .  It is slightly different from yours, but has the same kind of flowers that last for about a month and are very pretty cream.  Mine is not affecting other plants close to it.

Hostafan1

One wonders if folk read previous postings before adding own.

I'm not sure those roots are phormium. I seem to remember them having yellow roots. Long time ago, I might well be wrong.